I don\u2019t always agree with The Wild Hunt\u2019s editorial choices, but even when I think they\u2019re wrong, they\u2019re still bringing us news no one else will. I\u2019m supporting them again this year, and I encourage you to support them at whatever level is right for you<\/a>.<\/p>\n The first is Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans<\/a><\/em> by Ivo Dominguez Jr. Subtitled \u201cUsing the Planets and the Stars for Effective Spellwork, Rituals, and Magickal Work,\u201d it was released by Weiser on January 1, 2016.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve never paid a lot of attention to astrology, but lately I\u2019ve been convinced that was a mistake<\/a>. Astrological influences don\u2019t rule your life, but they do have an influence on it, sometimes minor and sometimes very major. I have three books on astrology on my shelves \u2013 they were dense and I don\u2019t think I finished any of them. Ivo Dominguez Jr. not only knows a lot about astrology, he knows how to use it in practical applications \u2013 I thought his book might the one I needed.<\/p>\n I was right. This moderately sized (216 pages) book presents the concepts of astrology without getting bogged down in all the minutia (and I had forgotten how much minutia is in astrology!). It won\u2019t teach you how to be an astrologer, but it will tell you how to incorporate astrology into your magical workings and into your life.<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to need to read it again at least once and probably two or three times for it to really sink in, but now I have the general Pagan introduction I need.<\/p>\n Morgan Daimler probably knows Celtic literature as well as anyone in the Pagan community, and it shows in this book. These are not Disney fairies she\u2019s writing about \u2013 they\u2019re the fae of Irish legend and lore, some of whom will deal fairly with you if you\u2019re scrupulously honest with them, and some who would just as soon eat you for dinner.<\/p>\n The book covers some complicated (and at times, controversial) material in an straightforward way. It doesn\u2019t make it out to be deep and dark and scary, but it makes it clear that it\u2019s not safe, particularly if you don\u2019t respect it. It adds enough witchcraft and polytheism to make it a complete system (thus \u201cpath\u201d in the title), if one was inclined to make it their primary spiritual path.<\/p>\n This is an \u201cadvanced beginner\u201d book. It shouldn\u2019t be the first book you read on witchcraft, or on fairies, but if you\u2019re interested in either \u2013 or if you need a reference to shut up people spouting na\u00efve crap about the Good Neighbors \u2013 it will make a good addition to your library.<\/p>\n 4. The book I\u2019ve been working on for the past couple of years and have mentioned in passing a time or two now has a publication date. The Path of Paganism \u2013 An Experience-Based Guide to Modern Pagan Practice<\/em> will be published in May of 2017 by Llewellyn.<\/p>\n This is a \u201c200 level\u201d introduction to modern Pagan religion. It\u2019s intended for advanced beginners and intermediate practitioners. In addition to presenting an introduction to modern Pagan beliefs and practices, The Path of Paganism<\/em> also examines the unstated assumptions of mainstream beliefs and practices. It looks at the tension they create, the difficulties they cause for Pagans, and how we can resolve the conflicts within ourselves\u2026 and how we can live lives that are authentic, meaningful, and virtuous.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen the cover mockup and I love it, but it\u2019s not final so I can\u2019t share it yet. As soon as it\u2019s official, I\u2019ll pass it along.<\/p>\n 5. I watched the first debate last night. Let me start by saying I understand why some people are voting for Donald Trump. They\u2019re not all racists. They have some legitimate concerns<\/a> and if we don\u2019t address them, whoever comes after Trump will be worse.<\/p>\n That said, how anyone can listen to Trump for five minutes and think he\u2019s capable of being President is beyond me. I don\u2019t care how much you don\u2019t trust Hillary (I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary), Trump as President would make you long for the good old days when George W. Bush (a good man who surrounded himself with some very bad men) only embarrassed the country once or twice a week.<\/p>\n The second debate will be October 9, and the third and final debate will be October The winner will be the candidate who can get the most of their supporters to the polls. Democrats outnumber Republicans, but Republicans turn out at a much higher rate. Do not sit out this election.<\/p>\n 6. Is Libertarian Gary Johnson a legitimate candidate? He didn\u2019t reach 15% in the polls so he was excluded from the debates, along with Green candidate Jill Stein. That sounds reasonable, until you learn that the Commission on Presidential Debates was formed specifically to enable the exclusion of third party candidates (previously, the League of Women Voters had managed the debates). The US political system is set up for two parties \u2013 that\u2019s why Bernie Sanders ran for President as a Democrat, even though he\u2019s been an independent since 1979.<\/p>\n I voted for Gary Johnson in 2012. I was unhappy with Barack Obama\u2019s first term, Mitt Romney was going to carry Texas no matter what, so I voted to support a third party. My hope is that conservatives who cannot bring themselves to vote for Hillary will vote for Johnson instead. I have issues with libertarianism (especially in its extreme forms), but Gary Johnson would make a decent President.<\/p>\n Unlike the Republican nominee.<\/p>\n 7. Earlier this month, Denton CUUPS took a weekend and retreated to the woods. James Stevens<\/a> was a member of Denton CUUPS until his death from cancer in 2010. We\u2019ve stayed in touch with the Stevens family and they\u2019ve graciously allowed us to continue using their land.<\/p>\n It was hot on Friday night, but a storm moved through early Saturday morning and cooled things off. That\u2019s the second time I\u2019ve been through a thunderstorm out there \u2013 there\u2019s nothing quite like knowing there\u2019s nothing but a couple thin sheets of nylon between you and the elements\u2026 particularly when the rain is pouring and the winds are over 30 MPH. But we all came though it fine and Saturday was beautiful.<\/p>\n It was hazy Saturday night, so we didn\u2019t get the benefit of the dark skies, but we watched as the mists rolled in across the fields and into the wood. It wasn\u2019t entirely a weather thing, either\u2026<\/p>\n There is no substitute for spending time in Nature.<\/p>\n![\"Practical](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/243\/2016\/09\/Practical-Astrology-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a>2. I don\u2019t usually review books in Nine Things I Think, but this time I\u2019ve got two books I want to bring to your attention.<\/p>\n![\"Fairycraft\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/243\/2016\/09\/Fairycraft-194x300.jpg\")
<\/a>3. The second book is Fairycraft: Following The Path Of Fairy Witchcraft<\/a><\/em> by Morgan Daimler. It was released by Moon Books on June 24, 2016. This is not one of their Pagan Portals series of very short introductory books \u2013 it runs 272 pages.<\/p>\n16<\/del> 19. The Vice Presidential candidates will debate October 4.<\/p>\n![\"CUUPS](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/243\/2016\/09\/CUUPS-camping-Sep2016-02.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"CUUPS](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/243\/2016\/09\/CUUPS-camping-Sep2016-03.jpg\")
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